Lawyer Rawmond Bidema Defends Legality of President’s Action in Chief Justice Suspension Amid Protests
Law lecturer at KAAF University, Rawmond Bidema, has weighed in on the recent protest by a coalition of political parties against the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice by the President, describing the demonstration as lawful but questioning its substance.
Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye show this morning, Mr. Bidema emphasized that while the right to protest is enshrined in the constitution, demonstrators must clearly articulate the legal violations they are protesting.
“The real question is, why are they on the street?” he asked. “If it’s about legality, then they should be able to show which part of Article 146 has been violated.”
Citing precedent, Mr. Bidema explained that Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines the procedure for removing justices, has been previously invoked. He referenced the removal of high court judges under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following the Anas Aremeyaw judicial exposé, noting that the same constitutional processes are being followed by President Mahama.
“This is not the first time we are testing Article 146. The constitution has robust mechanisms for addressing grievances, including judicial review, and aggrieved parties should pursue those channels.”
Mr. Bidema expressed concern that the protests may be prejudging the outcome of an ongoing legal process, which could undermine public trust in the judiciary.
In response to questions about claims made by NDC National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi, Mr. Bidema clarified:
“Sammy Gyamfi is not the spokesperson for the president. Political party communicators don’t necessarily represent the legal or official stance of the state.”
He urged calm and called on all parties to respect constitutional procedures rather than resorting to public agitation that may preempt the legal process. “Until the process is completed and we have access to the full petition, everything else is mere speculation.”
By Adeline Mumuni
